At least Ford is finally acknowledging it now:

Today, at a meeting with industry analysts and a handful of journalists, Ford’s truck program marketing manager Doug Scott finally said what we’ve known all along: There is room for a new small truck to replace the Ranger. The thing is, it might not be the Ranger.
“It’d have to be a true compact truck,” says Scott. “It has to be clearly differentiated from the F-150 in price, size, and fuel economy.” Scott says today’s not-so-compact pickup trucks just don’t do that.“Can you build a business case for [a compact truck] and make it work?” He said he could Automotive.com

I think Ford marketing was genuinely surprised that current Ranger buyers didn't just step up to F150s. The current taco is a midsize, and gm just announced that the colorado replacement will be bigger than the taco. Current 1/2 tons are now towing over 10000lb. and growing in size as well. Ford would be the only game in town with a modern compact truck. Even old Ranger was still selling well, but new govt safety crap was about to make it obsolete.

 

Not sure how likely it is to happen but if the price was right I'd buy one!

 

Is the Ford Ranger the only vehicle to have pretty much the same body and interior for 19 years? There was only face lifts from 1993-2011. I actually like this approach due to the massive amount of interchangeable parts.

 

It would be cool to see a new compact mini truck on the market. But they would probably build it off the c max chassis and make it front wheel drive

 

Yeah I love that. A new tail light for the ranger was in stock for $36, for my wifes car it was special order for $160. If it wasn't for all the new govt requirements, Ford could have dropped in some modern engines and sold it for another 2 decades.

I was ready to buy the new colorado if it came with a diesel. But since it is going to basically be the size a 1/2 ton used to be, I'm no longer interested. Its hard to believe you can't buy a compact truck anymore.

The chicken tax has been lifted for South Korea, and now Hyundai is considering making one.

 

In Mexico is actualy the new Ranger 2013: Ford de México | Ford Ranger

In Mexico this new model is vs:

VW Amarok: Amarok < Modelos < Volkswagen Vehiculos Comerciales
Toyota Hilux: Hilux
Mitsubishi L200: Mitsubishi Motors México
Nissan Frontier: Frontier Pro-4X - Pick Up
Chevrolet Colorado

Chevrolet Colorado is the unique american little truck truck. (No more Dodge Dakota). I think the "little trucks" is actualy only for poor countrys (like my country) for the gasoline costs.

But I think the new 2013 Ranger would be a good truck for USA, i think so.

 

A mid sized F-100 MIGHT WORK !
The new one needs to look like a truck not rework car make over.

FORD screwed up the ESCAPE now they are going to do it to the Ranger !

FORD smarten up, LISTEN to your customers.

 

I too want to see Ford come out with a new one. They just need to find the balance between usefulness and fuel economy. I personally would like to see a little turbo diesel here in the US rather than just in foreign countries. At one point in time, I actually even considered doing a swap with a little TDI out of a VW Jetta or something. As for the size, the ranger has always been the perfect size. Parking lots are a lot easier to maneuver in a Ranger than in a F-150. Although having a crew cab four-door would be a nice option like the Dodge Dakota. Or even offer a V8 option for those who want to pull (or show off) with it.

 

This.

they'd probably make it 4wd, but i bet it'd look something like this.




(yes, that is a real Ford Vehicle currently in production in Australia, called the Falcon Ute)

 

If ford would have put a reliable little turbo diesel in our rangers for 2012 i bet it would have sold like hot cakes.

 

Or maybe they'll even bring back the Ranchero, or something similar looking like that one in Australia.

 

Yes. Except mid-size would even be borderline for me. It needs to be as close as possible to the old Ranger in size for me.

 

That aussie truck car would never sell here. It's like a lameass el camino..

None the less, they pretty much put smaller engines in rangers... but they have engines that would get great mpg out of a pickup truck the size of a ranger. Once you had a pickup truck like ours with highway 35 mpg..that would be quite the selling point.

 

If they bring the falcon here I would buy one the day it came out. I've thought about paying the insane ship fee to have a Falcon XR6. They should be made here and not just in Australia

 

A unibody truck would probably sell well to fleet buyers, but that is not where the profit is. I don't think most people want to give up 4wd or at least ground clearance.

The new fuel economy standards may be what finish off the compact truck. They are based on the size of the vehicle, so manufacturers will actually be encouraged to build larger vehicles. A long wheelbase F150 will be allowed to get about 20% lower mileage than a short wheelbase. Small vehicles that get relatively poor mileage, like Wranglers, may be forced out.

 

Well, they might have gotten smarter. The biggest reason I bought the 2011 Ranger we have was it's size and the 4.0 v6. Not everyone is trying to buy the most fuel efficient truck. The dealer did his best to sell me an Ecoboost fullsize. I finally explained to him I have an f150 Lightning, f250 superduty diesel, I want a ranger due to it's size. I rarely need to heft of the big truck, the Lightning is a hotrod, I just needed to replace my 98 Tacoma with an equal sized truck but more grunt. I wasn't fond of the thing at first, but it's gotten to be a good truck. A cab redesign and for better ergonomics and the thing would be awesome. Just offer a diesel option so we can get the fuel mileage and towing at the same time. I'd buy the Falcon ute just for the fact I always liked the bodystyle, just make sure we can hotrod it.

 

they already make a f100 but it not sold here

 

I agree. If they do any of that I'd buy.

 

Not true, unless you Are referring to the global ranger that shares zero parts with the f150.

 

was @ the ford dealer today to get my fusion inspected ask the salesman about the f100 he said ford is going to make a mid size truck but didnt know what it was goin to be a f100 or just a little bit bigger ranger. they had a f150 ranger on the show room floor but they made them back in the 70s

 

The dealers are usually last to know.
I doubt there is anything in the works yet, my buddy who's still at Roush hasn't seen anything and they're working on Model Year 15 currently.

 

I havent seen anything yet and i work at the ford proving grounds in prototyping

 

so they lied to me agian my fusion only had 12,000 miles on it when it needed tires they told me they would replace them . i had to replace a the tires. it cost $500 thanks ford motor co.

 

Just got back from mexico and these things were everywhere. Seems like the perfect runabout for most fleet needs. It was hard to tell but I think they are unibody and not available as a 4x4.

 

i know its a chevy but what is it ? s10?